Terracing turns an awkward slope into a multilayered backyard

The challenge Chuck and Judy Reavis faced as they planned a backyard makeover for their Leesburg, Va., home was how to make it stand out in a community where most of the houses look very similar.

“We share the same home style as many of our neighbors, and we all strive to make our property unique and to maximize the limited property sizes, which are approximately one-third of an acre,” said Judy Reavis, an interior designer.